HHD Staff Profiles: Jennifer Steinrad

The HHD Staff Profiles Series recognizes the HHD staff and brings to light the many talents and skills it takes to attend to the details that keep our college’s departments, programs, centers and institutes running smoothly. 

The HHD Staff Recognition Committee developed the idea for this series. 

Profile:

Jennifer Steinrad, M.S.
Department Coordinator
Physical Therapy

HHD: Is this your first job at CSUN?

JS: This is my first job at CSUN, but I’m no stranger to the campus as I graduated with my undergrad degree in Journalism and a minor in Gerontology many moons ago.

HHD: When did you start working for PT? 

JS: I am the newest kid on the block and have been working in the PT Department for a little more than six incredible months.

HHD: What was your previous job? 

JS: I worked at a local hospital for seven years as an administrative coordinator for the Security Department for two years and then transitioned to the Education Department for the last five years.

HHD: In your job, do you interact mostly with students? Other employees? Community members? Other areas of campus?

JS:  I interact with just about everyone from students, other staff, faculty, and community members. I am such a people person, but, must admit that I am a huge cheerleader and advocate for our students. Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance is truly inspiring and makes me strive to be a better person.

HHD: What kind of input from others makes your day the best for you?

JS: The simplest gesture or words make my heart smile. There is a lot of responsibility in my current role. There are things I’m doing that I have no experience with and my support system from those in my department and throughout the HHD College mean everything to me. Their guidance and patience are what helps me get through the challenges of my job. 

HHD: What is the most rewarding thing about your job, and what is the most challenging?

JS: The most rewarding thing about my job is being able to easily collaborate with not only my department, but other departments throughout the college. The support that I have received is incredible and I am always so happy to pay it forward. 

My job entails meticulous detail. I would say that I am pretty attentive to detail, but, I’m also human and make mistakes. I can be very hard on myself so I am learning to be a little more kind. 

HHD: What made you choose to get an Master of Science degree in Journalism, and where did you get it?

JS: I received my BS degree in Journalism from none other than CSUN! Go Matadors!!! 
I have always had such a passion for writing that reverts to when I was in elementary school. I thoroughly enjoyed all of my writing assignments and my short story writings were hardly ever “short”. I can clearly remember an assignment that was supposed to be a one or two pager, but mine turned into a short 28 pages long. Let me tell you, there was a lot to write about when it came to “The day it rained jellybeans.”

HHD: Do you do any writing in your job and beyond it?

JS:  I haven’t currently written anything in my job, but, when an opportunity arises, I’m going to go for it. I wrote for the Pierce College newspaper when I was a student there and really enjoyed all of the assignments I took on. I have always wanted to write a book or two and hope to do so in the very near future. 

HHD: Would you like to say anything about your outside interests beyond work?

JS: I am typically a very positive and happy person; you can almost always find me with a smile on my face. I give all of that credit to my wild, loving, and sweet four-year-old son. He has been the absolute light in my darkest of days. He is my best friend and the reason for my strands of grey. When we aren’t having dance parties, watching Bluey, or running around at the park, I enjoy concerts, Disneyland, the beach, and a good white wine.

HHD: Is there anything you’d like to add?

JS: I’ve learned in my short amount of time in life that it’s full of challenges. It can be beautiful and quite a disaster all at the same time. Just like a rollercoaster, I’ve had my ups and downs. One thing that I’m very open about is my journey of widowhood. My darling husband unexpectedly died when I was five months pregnant with our first child. He was here one minute and gone the next. I share this not for sympathy, but to help others understand that life does go on. We move forward, not on. Life is for the living and although, I have rough days, I also have some pretty great ones. Not every day is going to be good, but make sure to find the good in every day.

Sp2024/HHD